High pressure pneumatic tube tester



Oct.21, 1941. J,E ,V;HG.NG' TON 2,259,675

HIGH PRESSURE PNEUMATIC TUBE TESTER Filed July 24, 1940 i /4 Q By E m o a A tiorneys Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIGH PRESSURE PNEUMATIC TUBE TESTER Joseph E. Wigington, Richmond, Va.

Application July 24, 1940, Serial No. 347,277

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in testing means for pneumatic tubes such as are employed in the pneumatic wheels of present day automobiles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tester for tubes in which the tube can be placed and subjected to relatively high pressure compared to what is generally employed, for the purpose of locating not only major leaks, but also minor ruptures.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a high pressure pneumatic tube tester of a construction which will permit the tube to be tested, to be easily placed and removed with respect thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view of the tester.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the tester.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the detents.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the tester is in the nature of an annular basket or trough consisting of a plurality of annular circumferentially extending stays 5 to which substantially circular ribs 6 are secured. It is preferable that the stays 5 be substantially closely spaced at the periphery of the tester, while tie wires 1 may be used to connect the ribs 6 at the side portions thereof. At the inner edges of the tester another pair of stays 8 and 9 are employed and to these are connected the detents IE]. Each detent consists of a U-shaped member ll having its end portions looped as at l2 over the stay 8 and bridge members l3 bridge the leg members to reinforce the structure. The bight portion of each of these detents I0 is formed to provide a hook l4 and these hooks of the detents engage over the stay 9 as shown in Figure 2.

Obviously, as the inner tube is inflated there is no likelihood of the hooks l4 pulling loose from the stay 9.

With this structure, a much higher pressure may be utilized in testing inner tubes to find punctures than is at present employed, because of the fear that the tube may blow out at a large puncture which is substantially safeguarded against in the present invention by reason of the bracing means afforded for the entire tube.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. I

Having described the claimed as new is:

A pneumatic tube tester comprising an annular basket-like structure open circumferentially at its innermost side portion, said basket-like structure being provided with circumferentially extending rods at the edge portions of its open side portion, a plurality of detents mounted on the rods, each of the said detents consisting of a U-shaped frame having its legs provided with eyes for receiving one of the rods, members bridging the leg portions of each detent, and a spring hook on the bight portion of each of the detent frames for engagement with thecomplementary rod in holding the detent in position bridging the gap between the rods, said detents being placed close together with their legs extending transversely across the inner circumference of the tube being tested and the bridging members extending circumferentially over said part of the tube.

JOSEPH E. WIGINGTON.

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